OT. Canada--- Pastport Needed???

Planning a trip to New Brunswick, etc, Can I still enter Canada and get back into the USA with a Birth Certificate and a drivers license or do I need a Pastport??? Thanks Robert in Md.
We closed our produce stand today for the season, Finished our last strip of Sweet Corn, and are planning a trip north later next week before it gets cold up there.

No passport needed yet. But . . . the Canadians are now stopping US citizens from crossing if anything shows up in arrest records dating back to the 1960s -even something minor. This just started this year.

you now need a passport --- i plan on going into canada at the end of oct. i applied for my passport about a week ago i hope it comes in time.they were not sure if it would or not.

I believe if you're driving then you don't need a passport. If you're flying, YOU DO...
Not positive on that, but pretty sure. It's coming for land travel too; just not sure of the date.

Rod

Canada has all the info posted at:

http://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/pub/rc4161-eng.html#P004

"US Citizens Visiting Canada by Land or Water
As of Dec 21, 2007, passport requirements have been once again delayed meaning that US citizens arriving in Canada by land or water do not need a passport until at least summer 2009. "

"Since September 30, 2007, American citizens flying to Canada have needed a passport."


If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter Canada; however, you should carry proof of your citizenship such as a birth certificate, certificate of citizenship or naturalization or a Certificate of Indian Status, as well as a photo ID. If you are a permanent resident of the United States, you must bring your permanent resident card (i.e. green card) with you. For more information on admissibility into Canada, read the fact sheet called Managing Access to Canada. It is available on our Web site at www.cbsa.gc.ca.

If you are travelling with minors, you must carry proper identification for each child such as a birth certificate, passport, citizenship card, permanent resident card or Certificate of Indian Status.

If you are divorced or separated, you should carry with you copies of the legal custody agreements for your children. If you are travelling with minors and you are not their parent/guardian, you should have written permission from the parent/guardian authorizing the trip. The letter should include addresses and telephone numbers of where the parents or guardian can be reached and identify a person who can confirm that the children are not being abducted or taken against their will.

No passport required until 2009 if traveling on the ground.

Passports are only needed for flying, as far as arrest record, I know of some people who have been in and out with recent DWI's. they weren't driving and used a passport for ID.

The deal is this - as far as I can tell. I travel through Canada a lot - from New York and Vermont - to northern Michigan. In 40 years, I've never had a problem - but . . . Canada now has full access to U.S. arrest records dating back to the 1960s. If they decide to spend 30 seconds checking your record - and find either - two or more of any arrests - or even one offense related to drinking and driving - you won't be allowed to pass. It need not be a conviction - just a record of arrest. A friend of mine got turned back this year when on route to his annual moose-hunting trip. He's done it for 30 years - but this time - they found a drinking and driving arrest from 1969 and turned him back. So - I called the Canadian Consulate - and the border patrol. I gave them my name and date of birth - and in a few seconds - I was told I am NO longer allowed to cross. They might not check me if I try - but if they DO check - I'll be turned back. Canada requires me now - to basically buy a pass from them. Takes some time, paperwork, and some money.

Just for reference here - I've never been arrested for any drinking and driving. Just several high-speed car chases and a few bar fights in the late 1960s and early 1970s. My record since 1971 is perfectly clean - but I cannot pass into Canada anymore until I do the new paperwork and buy permission from them.

Seems OK to me, it's their country, not mine. Seems fair that I should have to prove myself - instead of them doing the work. But. . . it was a lot easier before all this 9/11 stuff.

I applied for a passport and passport card in July. The passport arrived in two weeks once I supplied a proper birth certificate. The passport card (good only for Bahamas, Carribean, Mexico, and Canada on the surface) arrived several weeks later. It was issued the day I entered Canada with my passport.

Driver's license and birth certificate will work until next February on the ground. The new passport made entries quick and satisfied other places that wanted ID.

Gerald J.

I suggest that you go ahead an apply for passports. I believe that it's helpful at the border to have proof you've applied for a passport, even if you don't have it yet.

My sister from Ca. just crossed over and back in Port Huron Mi. with her 7 year old adopted son from the Ukrane and rented car with no problem. She has passports but they were in Ca. Her son even piped up and said where he was born when they asked my sister where she was born. I have a passport but half the time I forget it when I cross over here and there with no major problem.

My suggestion is to get your passport, and keep it up to date (10 yr expiration on mine).
Altho not required, security is slowly (too slowly!) tightening up, and, if current trends continue, will become required, unless supplanted by something deemed more secure.
As security tightens, applications for passports will probably be more carefully handled.

Nope dont need a passport yet to get into Quebec or N.B. They see our plates {Maine} and just wave us through.Only need drivers lic. and birth cert.to be legal though. Hoss